13 years on, Quake hit school buildings in Karnah await repair | KNO

Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

Srinagar, June 25 (KNO) : The construction and the repairs of the school buildings which were damaged in 2005 earth quake in Karnah are yet to be completed, exposing the laxity of the government in providing proper accommodation to the school going children in far off areas.
The school buildings were earlier constructed under erstwhile Sarva Shiksha Abhiyna (SSA) and RMSA schemes for which the government of India pumped in lakhs of rupees. However, all these buildings are abandoned now. Around 6 schools were completely damaged during earth quake which hit valley on October 08 of 2005.
“Karnah area in Kupwara district was the worst hit as scores of school buildings collapsed and rendered students without classrooms,” an official told KNO. The official told KNO that the department had started reconstruction of school buildings which were completely damaged but the execution of work was halted in mid-way for unknown reasons.
“The five school buildings include two in zone Chamkoot and three buildings in Tanghdar zone were damaged in the area. One building in also in the adjoining area,” the official said. The officials told KNO that the construction of the damaged school buildings was executed under earth quake scheme for which J&K government designated R&B department as executing agency.
“But the buildings are still incomplete,” the official said. Leaving the buildings incomplete in the far off area for more than 13 years has deflated the tall claims of successive regimes of J&K state over taking education sector to new heights.
The governor administration had earlier stated that the education department will fill up all the infrastructural gaps in the education department for the betterment of the students. However, the tall claims have got flattened given the poor and shabby conditions of school buildings in rural villages.
Meanwhile, an official told KNO that around 40 school buildings were damaged in various areas of Karnah. “Most of these buildings were completely damaged and were auctioned by the department. Some new buildings were completed in some zones but other buildings are awaiting completion,” he said. The officials in the roads and buildings (R&B) department however told KNO that the execution work of some buildings was left in midway due to paucity of funds with the education department.
A top official in education department told KNO that the construction of quake-affected schools was halted due to non availability of funds. “Funds were stopped by the government due to which the work on these buildings was not completed and are now abandoned,” he said. Secretary school education department, Sarita Chauhan meanwhile told KNO that the issue will be looked into.(KNO)
(File Photo Use)